Williams finishes first after second chance

by Ron O'Orazio sports editor

There is an old saying that claims that everyone deserves a second chance. For senior James Williams, that second chance came in the form of an opportunity to run at Cabrini.

In January of 1995, Williams came to Cabrini after making his choice amongst Cabrini, Benedict College, South Carolina University and North Carolina Central University. Williams said that the primary reason for choosing Cabrini was its location, so he could stay close to his grandmother who, at the time, was sick.

Cabrini turned out to be a new beginning for Williams, who had dropped out of Cheyney University a year earlier. Williams was a wide receiver for Cheyney before he left halfway through the first semester. Williams proceeded to stay out of school and "spent the rest of the year doing everything but the right thing."

While caring for his grandmother, Williams turned his life around and enrolled at Cabrini. Upon entering Cabrini, Williams picked up exactly how he left off in high school: running. A Penn Relay All-American and three time All-State in track, Williams was ranked 17th in the nation in the 110-meter hurdles event. According to Williams, the hurdles and the triple jump are his best events.

Williams said that he hardly ever loses in the triple jump and rarely sees second. One highlight of Williams' career was when he defeated Tyrone Wheatley, currently a running back for the New York Giants, in the 55-meter hurdles race at the Syracuse Nationals in 1992.

In the three-and-a-half years that Williams has run for Cabrini, he bas made quite an impact on the sport of track. WiJliams has held up to 11 school records at one time and currently holds six track records at Cabrini.

Williams believes that his success translates into wins for the team. "When I am on top of my game, no teams are able to beat us in that meet," Williams said.

According to Williams, he has placed in the top five in every Mid-Atlantic Regional event since his first season at Cabrini.

Williams is ranked fourth in the Eastern College Athletic Conference in hurdles.

He has captured the ECAC's fifth-fastest time ever in the 55-meter hurdles event.

In describing his performance at Cabrini, Williams said, "I have been the most consistent scorer ever in school history for track and have won 75 percent of the events that I have participated in."

Williams attributes some of his success to the fact that he was trained in higq school by Tony Dees, who for three years had the fastest time in the world in the hurdles event.

Williams will run track for what could be the last time this winter and has set big goals for himself and the team. His goals for the team are simple: capture the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference championship.

As for his personal goals, Williams said, "Keeping my mouth shut and stopping the trash talking are the key to concentrating on getting what is rightfully mine-everything I lost over the years while I was inactive."

Williams especially wants to score well in the hurdles event, something in which he did well in high school. He is dedicated to training for an undefeated year in the events that he will run in.

After coming down a difficult road to get to where he is, Williams has finally achieved success. When Williams is finished Cabrini, he plans to pass on what he has learned from Dees and coach college track.